Limits on Number of Attempts and Time for Completion of USMLE Step Exams

Friday, July 11, 2014

By Catherine T. Hollis, J.D., The Health Law Firm and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

According to the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) 2014 Bulletin of Information, individuals are permitted to attempt the same Step Exam or Step Exam Component a maximum of six times. All attempts, including incomplete attempts, are counted toward the limit, regardless of when they were taken. The USMLE Program itself does not limit the length of time in which all Steps Exams or Step Exam Components must be completed.

Each state's medical licensing board sets the requirements for initial medical licensure, including placing limits on the number of USMLEexam attempts and time limits. You can review the requirements for each state on the Federation of State Medical Boards' website by clicking here.

The USMLE Program recommends that state licensing boards require all Step Exams and Step Exam Components be completed within seven years. It also recommends no more than six attempts to pass each Step or Step Component. Some states permit as few as two attempts per Step or Step Component and some states have different attempt limits for each Step or Step Component. Others, including Florida, have no attempt limit on any Step or Step Component.

It may be possible to be allowed a seventh attempt at an examination by petitioning a state medical licensing board to intervene on your behalf with the USMLE Program to allow one additional attempt. However, there is no guarantee that this would be successful. The decision whether to intervene on an applicant's behalf is completely up to the discretion of the particular state's medical licensing board.

The majority of states follow the USMLE Program's suggestion and require that all USMLE Steps and Step Components be completed within seven years, but there are several states that allow ten years. A handful of states, including Florida, have no time limit for completion of the USMLE exams.

It is important to know the attempt and time limits for the particular state in which you intend to practice, and strive to complete your USMLE exams within those requirements. You must diligently and properly prepare for each Step or Step Component so that you increase your chances of passing each one the first time. There are a multitude of test preparation options available, both through the USMLE Program and through other commercial test preparation companies. To see a previous blog about careful and proper test preparation, click here.

Comments?

What is your opinion of the UMSLE testing attempt limits? Have you ever had an issue with these specific testing limitations? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

About the Authors: Catherine T. Hollis is an attorney with The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

By making this website information available for those who access it does not constitute doing business in or having a presence in any state or jurisdiction, nor does it constitute an advertisement sent to or a solicitation made in any state or jurisdiction. This firm is located in and maintains a presence in only those states where the firm maintains an actual physical office. Its attorneys are only admitted to practice in those states specifically listed on their resumes.